I recently attended the Milwaukee Talent Summit where Dan Terrio shared a deeply moving story about “human beingness.” He spoke about growing up on the Stockbridge-Munsee reservation and the importance of identity, connection, and showing up as fully human in our work. That message hit home for me because leadership and teaching are not just about plans, data, and outcomes; they are about the people who make learning happen every day and the experience they provide the students.
As we enter this season of gratitude and reflection, it’s a perfect time to focus on your student’s strengths, the strengths of your team, and the culture you are building together.
Strong, healthy school cultures are shaped by daily moments of connection. The personal check-ins with colleagues, the specific praise for a student who did something kind or thoughtful for another student, and the small acts of appreciation help teachers and students feel seen, valued, and motivated.
As we near this reflective season, consider these questions: What’s working well in your school community? What might need a fresh approach? Who might need a little extra TLC?
Gratitude is a simple yet powerful tool to help make those reflections intentional. And gratitude doesn’t just boost morale; it also improves well-being. Research shows that expressing thanks increases happiness, lowers stress, and strengthens overall resilience.
In the busy pace of teaching filled with lesson planning, grading, meetings, and deadlines, it’s easy for relationships and individual contributions to get overlooked. Gratitude brings these back into focus. It invites educators to pause, appreciate one another, appreciate your students, and remind everyone that strong connections fuel collaboration and progress.
Belonging and engagement in schools is deeply connected to how appreciated staff and students feel. All teachers have the opportunity to model gratitude in meaningful ways. A quick shout-out at the start of a staff meeting, a sincere thank-you, or a handwritten note can ripple through your school community, building trust and unity.
For example, a principal might begin a faculty meeting by saying, “Before we start, I want to recognize the incredible teamwork during last week’s parent-teacher conferences. Your dedication made those evenings run smoothly and made families feel welcome.”
A department chair could send a message to their team: “Thank you to the math teachers who collaborated on that new unit plan. Your creativity and teamwork will make a real difference for our students.”
And a teacher might take a moment during recess to thank a colleague: “I appreciate how you stepped in to help with that student this morning. That support means so much.”
If you want a little inspiration to start your own gratitude practice, check out the SoulPancake video “An Experiment in Gratitude | The Science of Happiness.” It’s an oldie but a goodie! It’s a heartwarming reminder of how appreciation lifts both the giver and the receiver. You might find yourself smiling, or even shedding a tear.
I invite you to lead with gratitude through the next month. Engage in this practice rooted in “human beingness.” Those small moments of genuine appreciation are the threads that weave connection, build resilient culture, and inspire everyone to show up fully. It’s in the everyday, imperfect human-to-human interactions where true leadership happens, one relationship at a time.
Just as Dan Terrio’s story reminded me that leadership is ultimately about our shared humanity, may your gratitude practice elevate not only what gets done but how we show up as educators, together.
From all of us at Yes…And LLC, thank you for leading with care, intention, courage, and gratitude.
